Customer Suing McDonald’s Over Cheese on Big Mac Says He Still Eats There but Doesn’t Trust It

Man Suing McDonald’s Over Cheese on Big Mac Continues to Eat There, with Caution

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Published Feb. 18, 2024, 8:47 p.m. ET

Charles Olsen, a Rockland County man, continues to frequent McDonald’s, albeit with a major change in his order. After a distressing incident in February 2021, when a slice of cheese almost caused his death, Olsen now opts for a plain burger and avoids dining out as much as he used to.

Olsen, who suffers from a severe milk allergy, no longer trusts McDonald’s to adhere to his specific order. Reflecting on his decision, he shared, “I have been back to McDonald’s, but I no longer trust McDonald’s to follow any order specifics such as not including cheese.”

Olsen experienced an anaphylaxis reaction after taking a bite of a Big Mac, causing him to rush to the hospital in fear for his life. Recounting the incident, he said, “I just can’t take the risk that it’ll happen again.”

The incident, which Olsen describes as a “normal night” with friends, occurred at a McDonald’s branch that has since closed down.

Olsen’s girlfriend, Alexandra DiBenedetto, who witnessed the terrifying episode, expressed her distress, saying, “Having to watch him struggle the way he did was absolutely awful, and it just kept getting scarier as the reaction progressed.”

In order to avoid the risk of cheese-related mishaps, Olsen has made dietary adjustments beyond McDonald’s, avoiding restaurants known to offer cheese-rich menus. He now opts for Asian eateries, as they tend to use less cheese and dairy products.

“I hope my story raises awareness about how serious food allergies are. Something needs to be done to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else. Employees need to be better trained. Restaurants can do better. Restaurants owe it to their customers to do better.”

Olsen’s lawyer, Jory Lange, emphasized the importance of listening to customer requests, particularly in the context of food allergies, which can be a matter of life or death. He warned, “This traumatic event could have become a terrible tragedy.”

While the outcome of Olsen’s lawsuit against McDonald’s remains to be seen, his story sheds light on the significance of being attentive to food allergies. By sharing his experience, Olsen hopes to prevent similar incidents from happening to others and promote safer practices in the restaurant industry.